The Madras High Court dismissed Netflix India’s application to dismiss the copyright case actor-producer Dhanush had moved against actress Nayanthara, with regard to an allegedly illegally used 3-second clip taken from his movie Naanum Rowdy Dhaan for a documentary Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale, streaming on the Netflix platform.
The civil suit has been filed by Dhanush against Nayanthara, her husband Vignesh Shivan, and their production house, Rowdy Pictures Private Limited, on November 2024. He was also permitted to file a suit against the content investment entity of Netflix, Los Gatos Production Services India LLP, since his own production company is Wunderbar Films Private Limited. Dhanush had sent out a notice that he would file a case if the offending footage did not disappear in 24 hours.
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On November 16, Nayanthara hit back with an open letter, claiming it was Dhanush who, through a legal notice and a demand for ₹10 crore in damages, had sought to shut her documentary down. As part of her Instagram statement, she revealed that while making the documentary, she had asked Dhanush for permission to use behind-the-scenes visuals from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, but he had refused permission and subsequently filed for a legal case when the footage was used.
The Netflix documentary, revealing deep insights into Nayanthara’s personal and professional life, was released towards the end of 2024. Dhanush and his team argue that filmmakers claim consent but have violated the law under copyright over the use of the visuals.
The High Court’s decision not to dismiss the case allows Dhanush’s legal proceedings to continue, keeping the spotlight on this high-profile dispute. With both parties adamant in their stances, the case highlights the growing tensions around copyright and intellectual property in India’s entertainment industry. Further developments are awaited as the case proceeds.
